This is an amazing video for the times. We planted front yards parking areas, and back yards. My Dad tells me that he got tired of eating tomato soup for every lunch. I think that we need to temper this need to grow and overuse of pesticides with todays want to grow organic movement...but it is hard work.

I happen to live in "Northern Maryland" and this property looks a lot like my neighborhood. I have never tried to plant an early crop and a late one, but I'm having a hard time believing in two potato crops in one season in Northern Maryland, not to mention the lettuce that never seems to bolt. And Good Lord! This family dealt with every type of disease and insect imaginable. I understand we talk a lot about organic gardening now (I myself am a practitioner) and organic/heirloom seed but I like my seed free of V,F wilts and other nasty diseases so I don't have to burn my entire garden when my tomatoes get fusarian wilt.

However, I did like the fact that the video showed all of the backbreaking labor that goes into producing a garden and gave a lot of good advice. I think a lot of people just think they can sprinkle some seed on the ground and viola! a garden will instantly appear. But the No Work, No Victory slogan was more frightening than encouraging.

I'm not an anti-pesticide fanatic, but it's simply incorrect to suggest that '40s pesticides were less dangerous than modern stuff.

In the '40s, it was common to use phosphorus compounds, arsenic compounds, nicotine compounds, thallium bait, DDT and other complex organics that we now know are neurotoxins, carcinogens/mutagens, environmentally persistent/accumulative, etc. on food-bearing ground, directly on food crops and animals, or where they would be drained/washed/flushed into watercourses that later would be utilized as public water supplies, for irrigation of food-bearing ground, or for food fishing.

Modern rules and practices have made a difference, generally for the better.

So, I am 50 years old. Both of my parents lived to be in their 90's - we survived this kind of gardening just fine, chemicals and all. My father grew victory gardens during both wars, and we had a 2 acre garden year round when I was growing up. I would not be so quick to judge the chemicals used - most were far less dangerous than the "RoundUp" that homeowners use around their property for weed control today, not to mention the chemicals that commercial growers use. Organic is better, but it is FAR more labor intensive to always be vigilant over pest control - one day looking away can wipe out your whole garden.

Well, at least this movie is more plausible then the the ridiculous 'Gardening' (also found on this site). A family decided to grow it's oen garden because of food rations, and just about grows everything under the sun (literally). Tomatoes! Watermelon! Corn! Collard Greens! Who on earth grows collard greens? Anyways, at least this is more indepth about how to plant these and the care it takes to cultivate these. It also shows us the many, many pests that can harm these and shows us how to deal with them (no bug stamping this time!) Very interesting.

The Holder family in Maryland lays out a quarter acre Victory Garden during World War II. Most of the gardening work is done by Grandpa Holder and his teenage grandchildren Rick and Amy and from the looks of the film, itÂs backbreaking. ThereÂs the Âearly garden of peppers, tomatoes, pole beans, potatoes, asparagus and sweet corn. Then, thereÂs the late garden with beets, squash, late potatoes, late cabbage, kale, collard greens and three rows of turnips. To save gasoline, they use a horse and plow and humble farm implements. ItÂs anything but organic. WeÂre see every kind of pest, worm and disease that can affect the garden. Rick sprays various noxious looking chemicals on the vegetables without wearing a face mask or gloves. ÂA victory garden is like a share in an airplane factory, the filmÂs opening tells us. ItÂs also a Âvitamin factory that will keep Americans strong. The film ends on a patriotic noteÂÂNo Work, No Victory!ÂBear that in mind all you Victory Gardeners and Work! For Victory! A no-nonsense, non-idealized look at what itÂs like to have to really grow your own food.